Blinkers on for Viva Majorca
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When Viva Majorca heads to post in the featured eighth race at Churchill Downs on Sunday, he will be wearing blinkers in an effort to eliminate the mistake he made in his last two races, trainer Ian Wilkes said.
That mistake was?
“Didn’t finish the way he should,” Wilkes said.
In fairness to the horse, the first time was in the Grade 1 Travers, in which he weakened to sixth after stalking the pace. But last time, when matched against second-level allowance foes at Keeneland on Oct. 8, there was no excuse. Backed below even-money, he flattened out in the stretch after making a menacing charge on the second turn and ran third.
“On talent, he should have beaten those horses,” said Wilkes.
Despite the loss, Viva Majorca is heavily favored to win Sunday’s $45,000 eighth race, a 1 1/16-mile dirt allowance with a $62,500 claiming condition. He is 6-5 on the morning line.
Working to his advantage are two factors: First, he drew the rail, giving him an opportunity to save ground early, and second, he returns to Churchill Downs, where he recorded a victory in June.
Viva Majorca, a 3-year-old colt by Tiago, is owned by his breeder, Marylou Whitney, and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux. He is matched against a group of mostly 4- and 5-year-old runners, plus a promising 3-year-old in For Goodness Sake, who drops in class after being outrun in a pair of graded stakes.
Key contenders
For Goodness Sake (Last 3 Beyers: 76-82-92)
◗ After facing better this summer and fall, he returns to his favorite track, Churchill Downs, where he won two of three races during the spring meet.
Donoharm (Last 3 Beyers: 78-89-82)
◗ Although outrun at Keeneland in his latest start, he came within a half-length of winning a race like this one at Churchill on Sept. 14, crossing the wire second before being placed fourth by the stewards for causing interference.
Mio d’Oro (Last 3 Beyers: 85-78-52)
◗ A front-runner, he comes out of sprints but has the pedigree to go the distance. He has run Beyers in the mid- to upper-80s in four of six dirt starts this year.
Viva Majorca (Last 3 Beyers: 89-89-89)
◗ Wilkes has unfavorable stats with horses adding blinkers for the first time, going 6 for 84 over the last five years, excluding first-time starters, according to Daily Racing Form’s Formulator.